Top 6 Reasons You Need a Professional Bike Fitting

With the arrival of Spring, and riders starting to dream about the warmer months and cycling adventures ahead, many of you are just now getting back into the saddle. And oftentimes, this is accompanied by new aches and pains, a sensation of inefficiency, and just ‘not feeling right’ on the bike. In these cases, a professional Bike Fitting can help you out tremendously.

So, how do you know if you need a Bike Fitting this season?

As a general rule, we recommend getting your Bike Fit checked if:

1. It’s been over 3–4 months since you’ve been on the bike. Our bodies’ flexibility changes rapidly, and the tolerance to a cycling position that you had at the end of last summer may very well be uncomfortable and/or inefficient to start your season off!
2. You purchased a new bike, and are looking to increase mileage and ride much more this year. It’s always great to start off with great positioning and an understanding of your BikeFit, posture, and training principles — By getting a Bike Fit before symptoms arise, you’re being proactive to help prevent injury from happening in the first place!
3. You have purchased any new cycling equipment that influences your Fit. Did Santa treat you well this past Holiday season? New shoes, cleats, handlebars, saddles, all can have an impact on your cycling positioning, and millimeters matter!
4. You are experiencing any pain or discomfort while riding, especially if it occurs in <1 hour of riding! Having symptoms already suggests there is repetitive stress/strain injury occurring, and a proper Bike Fit can help to resolve these issues!
5. You have goals of completing high-mileage/high-challenge events or races. Examples include: Cycle Oregon, Garmin UNBOUND Gravel, Reach the Beach, Swift Summit 100/200, Portland Century, Grinduro, etc. There’s a TON of rides and events to choose from!
6. You are trying a new discipline of cycling. For example, if you are looking to try gravel riding or mountain biking if of you’ve only ridden a road bike, or are getting a road bike if you have usually only just been a daily commuter with a flat or upright bar. Different postures and positioning are discipline specific!

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

If you live in the Portland, or call us at Pedal PT If you have specific questions- As a specialized bike-centric Physiotherapy office that has performed 2000+ Bike Fits over 8 years , we tend to see the full gamut of riders, including beginner to elite-level riders, commuters, e-bicyclists, folding bikes, and eveything in between, and are here for YOU!

Kevin Schmidt, PT, MSPT. Bike PT is the Owner/Founder of Pedal PT: Bike-Friendly Physical Therapy in Portland Oregon.

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Are you a Physcial Therapist passionate about cycling and working within the cycling population?

Be sure to check out my brand new online course offering: “The Pedal PT Online Academy” — Earn CEUs, and learn Bike Fit skills and how to succeed as a Physiotherapist in the cycling niche!

Over 8hours of and 30+ lessons designed to streamline, demystify, and explain clinical Bike Fit and working with the cycling population to help ALL riders experience the joys of pain-free cycling —> Click HERE